Haugesund is an easy dock-and-walk port. The ship ties up about 1 km from the center. The town is small and flat near the water, but the big sights (Avaldsnes, Skudeneshavn, Langfoss) need a tour or a car.
Where Haugesund lies
HaugesundBergenOsloStockholmÅlesundFlåmGeirangerGothenburgHammerfestHellesyltHelsinkiHonningsvågKristiansandLeknesMoldeNordfjordeidOldenSkagenSkjoldenStavangerTallinnTromsøVisbyWhere your ship docks
Ships tie up at Garpaskjær (also spelled Garpeskjær) quay at the north entrance to town. Berth 1+2 is about 295 m long and takes ships up to about 360 m. Berth 3 is 126 m long.
Shuttle. A shuttle bus runs only if your cruise line orders it. Most people walk.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Walk to Town center and harbor street (Smedasundet) | 10-15 minutes | Free |
| Taxi to Town center | About 2-5 minutes | Approximate; ask before you ride |
| Ship tour, private tour or rental car to Avaldsnes, Skudeneshavn, Langfoss | Half day or more | Varies by operator |
Walk to Town center and harbor street (Smedasundet)
- Leave the Garpaskjær quay gate.
- Head south along the water into town.
The port says the center is about 1 km away.
Taxi to Town center
- Taxis wait at Haugesund Harbour Park.
Fare amounts were not published by the port.
Ship tour, private tour or rental car to Avaldsnes, Skudeneshavn, Langfoss
- Book before you sail in summer.
- Confirm return time to the quay.
The port lists no public shuttle; a shuttle runs only if the cruise line orders one.
What to see
Smedasundet harbor front
Lively waterfront with cafes and old wharf buildings.
- How
- Walk from the ship.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- Free
Haraldshaugen
Norway's national monument, marking the country's unification.
- How
- North of town by the water; taxi or a long walk.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- Free outdoor monument
Avaldsnes and Nordvegen History Centre
Called Norway's oldest royal seat, with a rebuilt Viking farm.
- How
- Tour or taxi on Karmøy island.
- Time
- 2-3 hours
- Tickets
- Paid; check current price
Skudeneshavn
Village of white wooden houses and narrow lanes at the south tip of Karmøy.
- How
- Tour or rental car.
- Time
- 3-4 hours with travel
- Tickets
- Free to walk; small museum paid
Langfoss waterfall (Åkrafjord)
A tall waterfall that falls straight to the fjord.
- How
- Ship tour; it is a long drive.
- Time
- Half day
- Tickets
- Free to view
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- 9:00 Walk off the ship and into town along the water (15 min).
- 9:30 Stroll the harbor street and main shopping street.
- 10:30 Taxi or walk north to Haraldshaugen.
- 12:00 Lunch back in town by the harbor.
- 13:00 Optional: shorter taxi trip, or more time in town.
- 15:30 Start back to the ship.
- 16:00 On board, at least 1 hour before all-aboard.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Haugesund is one of Norway's busiest cruise ports in summer (port says 134 calls in 2023), so tour buses fill up.
- The best-known sights are outside town and need transport.
- Weather on this coast changes fast; bring rain gear.
Do this
- If you only want an easy day, walk the harbor and Haraldshaugen.
- For Avaldsnes or Skudeneshavn, a ship tour removes the return-time worry.
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- Norway has no cruise passenger tax in 2026. A national fee of NOK 100 per passenger per 24 hours in port is proposed from January 1, 2027, if approved (reported by The Local Norway, March 2026). Norway's separate local tourist tax of up to 3% applies to hotel stays, not cruise passengers.
Accessibility
Docked port, so no tender. The walk to town is mostly level along the water. Some side streets slope up from the harbor.
Money
Norwegian krone (NOK). Cards, including tap-to-pay, work almost everywhere. Many places take no cash. Bring a card with no foreign transaction fee.
More of the Norway & the Fjords
Sources & what we could not confirm · 5 sources · checked 2026-11
- Karmsund Port: Garpaskjær cruise quay
- Cruise Norway: Haugesund
- Cruise Norway: Haugesund port manual (PDF)
- Cruise Industry News: Norway to introduce cruise taxes for guests (2025)
- The Local Norway, how the proposed cruise tax will work (Mar 2026)
- Taxi fares to town and Haraldshaugen.
- Ticket prices for Nordvegen History Centre at Avaldsnes.
- Whether Haugesund has adopted Norway's new local visitor tax.